They are almost like family to me now
I’ve been going to Foothills Physical Therapy since 2019. They are wonderful. All the PT’s are knowledgeable, affable, and they listen to you. They come up with a good rehab program and do their best to make sure you understand what is going on with your body, injuries, etc., and try to remedy it. I HIGHLY recommend them. They are almost like family to me now. I would not go anywhere else.
~ Carmen F.
10/10 would recommend to anyone
I’ve seen a steady increase in recovery and a clear decrease in symptoms every week since starting here, even with a pretty demanding lifestyle that keeps me sore more often than not. Forrest does an excellent job of meeting you where you’re at. He understands how you train, work, and live, and always comes in with a plan or is willing to adjust based on what you did the week before or even the day before.
He’s extremely skilled and professional, but also genuinely kind and easy to work with. He listens closely, creates a positive and motivating environment, and clearly knows what he’s doing. His expertise shows not just in conversation, but in the results I’ve seen firsthand.
10/10 would recommend to anyone from high-level athletes, to people who sit all day, and anyone in between.
~ Kayvon A.
Couldn’t recommend this place more
Ryan, Summer, Forest, Becca, Lindsey and Zack make up a top notch team of kind, caring, and knowledgeable people that make you feel loved and welcome. They are ALL working together to get my shoulder back up to speed. Couldn’t recommend this place more. Thank you guys for going above and beyond with my care! ❤️
~ Knox L.
One on one patient care
This is the best physical therapy place, I’ve been to. They are very attentive to their patients. One on one patient care. Foothills Physical Therapy Group are amazing. If you need pt care they will not disappoint.
~ Chrissy M.
Foothills Physical Therapy Group is absolutely the best pt I have ever worked with!
These are the most caring and compassionate people. They are so attentive throughout my time there, using massage and cupping to aid healing and appropriate exercises to relieve pain. Foothills Physical Therapy Group is absolutely the best pt I have ever worked with!
~ Carla L.
Nothing but good and great results
Nothing but good and great results. Summer was my therapist. Prompt, very knowledgeable, very kind and patient. I would recommend this facility to one and all.
~ Phyllis H.
I’ll have the best therapist in the world very friendly he stays with you while you’re working out
~ Diane M.
I have noticed a significant improvement to my pain and mobility
Forrest Dyer was a superb physical therapist and exactly what I needed. I had made significant progress with my first physical therapist, but was not seeing further improvement and healing. Forrest had a slightly different approach, combining hands on work with specific exercises I could do on my time, and I have noticed a significant improvement to my pain and mobility. Forrest was always fun to talk with and listened to my concerns and thoughts.
~ Alan J.
What truly sets my experience apart has been their compassion.
I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional care I have received at Foothills Physical Therapy Group. From my very first phone call to make an appointment, I knew I would be in good hands. Throughout my treatment I have been impressed by Summer and Ryan’s compassion, deep expertise and professionalism. They have taken the time to thoroughly assess my condition and explain the treatment plan in a way that made me feel confident. Throughout my treatment, they listen carefully and thoughtfully to get my feedback on how things are progressing, making me feel included in my treatment plan. What truly sets my experience apart has been their compassion. They have always made me feel comfortable, always genuinely cared for as an individual, and have created a lively environment with lots of laughter. I would highly recommend Foothills Physical Therapy Group to anyone who is looking for knowledgeable, caring professionals who listen to and include the patient in every aspect of their treatment. I would never consider going anywhere else.
~ Tresa C.
I cannot recommend them enough!
I recently had seventh orthopedic surgery & knew it would require physical therapy afterwards. But this time, due to the traffic & construction on Alcoa Highway, I checked closer to home for another place. Foothills Therapy was recommended to me & it was certainly a lot more convenient. Lindsey, at the front desk, took my call & was so pleasant to deal with. She scheduled me with Summer & I couldn’t be happier.
I’ve had nothing but good experiences at the other two places I’ve been, but Foothills has been the best by far. I’ve been especially blessed to have Summer scheduled as my therapist. She genuinely listens, cares & has been most patient with me. I don’t like having my feet touched, even looked at, & have met everyone with an apology that they had to do both, from the surgeon to therapist.
After my first appointment, Summer has made me comfortable & most of all helped immensely with my post-surgery trauma. I must say, their hands-on therapy I’ve witnessed has been very impressive. (No being watched on machines.) I’ve made it a point to tell everyone I see that knows about my surgery how impressed I am with Foothills Therapy. I cannot recommend them enough! And, I’m probably the only person between Blount & Knox County that’s grateful for that highway construction!
~ Linda W.
Summer got right the task and has already brought relief, stability, and strengthening. I was originally concerned I would need surgery. However, her care is preventing surgery and restoring health!
~ Catrina P.
Everyone is very nice and helpful. Becka knows what she is doing and is really helping me with my pain.
~ James H.
the results I have achieved, with my particular issues, are truly life changing
My name is Greg and I’m a 61 year old patient at Foothills Physical Therapy. I found this group and Ryan by referral from a well-known specialist in the area. I am a former and aging athlete, and have visited many different Physical Therapy groups during my life for myself and adult children, both of whom were/are athletes. I’d say I have a pretty good exposure to the industry.
I can’t give high enough accolades to this group. A phrase comes to mind: Team Excellence. And I mean that – it may sound trivial, but they function as a high performing team. I have the most clinical exposure to Ryan (PT), Chelsea (PTA), and Zach (Clinical Assistant). Their expertise and high knowledge base, combined with their approach and personal touch is truly second to none. It is a pleasure to be a patient and now call them friends.
It is a comforting and warm atmosphere, but challenging in a collegial way where “what they do” is combined with knowledge and communicated in an easy to understand manner so you always know, “why we do it” and “how to do it”. They excel in providing confidence with science-backed information. While I came to them initially for a nagging injury, I can’t imagine my post-surgical recovery, from a different issue, without them.
And by team, I mean all of their employees at all levels. The front desk (mainly Lindsey) is inviting, professional and outstanding. Their back office is as caring as their care providers. They work together to make it pleasant.
And most importantly, the results I have achieved, with my particular issues, are truly life changing. I couldn’t recommend them enough.
~ Greg B.
~ Luke L.
They care about your recovery as much as you do.
After feeling very discouraged by experiences from other Physical Therapy clinics, a friend referred me to Foothills Physical Therapy for a chronic running injury. Not only did they treat me comprehensively, but they worked with me to keep me running good mileage through my treatment! I couldn’t be more grateful for them. They care about your recovery as much as you do. Without hesitation I recommend them to anybody who needs help or hasn’t seen the improvement they were looking for working with somebody else.
~ Caitlin G.
I’ve never achieved this much relief with anyone else
I have chronic pain and have been to numerous physical therapists; none have compared to Ryan. His hands are truly healing, and I’ve never achieved this much relief with anyone else. Ryan has not only helped me physically, but mentally as well. He is as genuine as they come. You can quickly tell he truly cares for his clients, and I’m proud to call him my friend. I cannot recommend Ryan enough; he has greatly improved my quality of life.
~ Emma P.
I finally was able to return to my normal level of activity and then some
I first met Dr. Dulling as a physician. I had several patients coming in to tell me they had seen him and what a wonderful job his team had done. At the time, I was struggling post-operatively from an ACL repair. I had already seen 2 other physical therapists with persistent knee pain over a year post-operative, so I decided to try one last time, given his stellar reviews. What I found was relief for the first time in a very long course of treatment. Dr. Dulling has a unique approach, and I finally was able to return to my normal level of activity and then some. I’m eternally grateful for Dr. Dulling’s expertise and gladly refer patients. In all our collaborations, I’ve never received negative feedback about Dr. Dulling or his team. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
~ Kelly
…not only eliminated my chronic pain, but I also strengthened weak spots and improved my range of motion…
I struggled with neck and back pain for years before I was referred to Dr. Ryan Dulling. I could not stand or sit for long periods without pain, and the relief from chiropractic visits was short-lived. From the first session, Ryan was always very specific in his diagnosis, treatment plan, and answers to my questions. I was surprised to learn that physical therapy involved much more comprehensive treatment than other options I had tried. While PT takes hard work and commitment, Ryan’s endless positivity made me believe that I could do it. During my treatment, I was also fortunate to work with Chelsea Rutledge, who provided the same level of care and an additional perspective on my progress. Working with Ryan and Chelsea not only eliminated my chronic pain, but I also strengthened weak spots and improved my range of motion. Now, I am lifting weights, biking, and swimming like a much younger man.
~ Robert S.
Bekah and Ryan have helped me achieve some of my goals
I was referred to Foothills Physical Therapy by my orthopedist for my ankle joint instability initially. I was seen by Ryan initially, who did a very thorough evaluation on me & my sports activity. He enlightened me on why I was not able to continue my hike up Mount Kilimanjaro, which I had attempted initially one year before I discovered weaknesses in my posture, my legs, that until the evaluation, I had not known about. He had Bekah White work with me on my weaknesses. I also had shoulder joint instability, as well and together, Bekah and Ryan have helped me achieve some of my goals.
Now, not everyone has lofty goals as I do, however, I have to admit that working with Ryan & Bekah has been the best thing that I ever did. Admittedly, I do have a long time to come to see them weekly, but for now, its completely worth it to drive the one hour from my house to see them.
They have helped me accomplish more in getting me functionally stable than any therapist I have been to. They are not only welcoming but also very patient in dealing with me. All their staff, and I mean all their staff, are very professional & attentive to my care. I could not ask for better therapists. I would wholeheartedly recommend this little therapy group to anyone seeking to mend their “broken body” without drugs/injections.
~ Hasmiekh K.
Foothills delivers care in the best possible way, embodying a patient-first motto.
From the moment you walk in the door at Foothills, you are immersed in a kind, caring environment. Linsey is not only friendly, but extremely patient and personable.
Ryan is a top tier physical therapist and even better person. He walks around the room pouring love into every single patient he encounters. The rest of his staff embodies Ryan’s approach because that is the culture he has created.
My shoulder injury was rare and complex, but not one time did Ryan not do everything in his power to improve my condition. He has a “bag of tricks” that he continues to pull from to ensure I’m progressing in the right direction.
As a fellow healthcare professional, Foothills delivers care in the best possible way, embodying a patient-first motto.
Not only is Ryan professional, but he and his team make the process of returning back to health as fun as possible.
I just can’t say enough about Foothills Physical Therapy. 5 Stars and Highly Recommended!
~ Keith R.
They have given me the best gift of all – a life free of pain.
I have been cared for by the team at Foothills Physical Therapy Group off and on for many years for different issues, from my shoulders to my toes. After previously being treated at a different clinic whose priority was revenue generation, the care at Foothills was a welcome change. As soon as you walk in the door, Lindsey greets you with a smile and makes you feel welcome. The whole team truly cares about you and supports your goals to lead an active life and return to the activities you love. The therapists take time to understand your problem and the impact it has on your life before developing a comprehensive treatment plan.
Ryan has spent countless hours making and adjusting custom orthotics for my challenging feet whose structure and mechanics have changed over the years. Even if my appointment is with someone else, Ryan makes a point to check in and ask how the orthotics are doing until they are perfect. He is not happy until you are happy and walking pain-free.
Summer, Forrest, and Chelsea have all carefully selected exercises to prepare me for the unique challenges of my work. The staff at Foothills works as a team, and I know that I am benefiting from the troubleshooting abilities of all of them when I am treated by any of them. I don’t trust healthcare professionals easily, but I trust this team to control my pain levels and restore function. Summer has also taken the time to provide me with strategies to manage pain and function during extended absences from physical therapy. After returning from a trip with brand new pain and numbness, Summer quickly diagnosed the issue and started my rehabilitation.
At Foothills Physical Therapy Group, patients and staff care about each other, root for each other, and celebrate each other’s accomplishments. They have given me the best gift of all – a life free of pain.
~ Mary
From the moment you enter the clinic, you’re treated like family.
From clinicians to front desk & administrative staff, the team at Foothills Physical Therapy is talented, compassionate, & thorough. I’ve been a patient here several times over the last few years for different injuries, including recovery after hip surgery, & each visit has shown me what consistent and high-quality care looks like. From the moment you enter the clinic, you’re treated like family. Their focus on patient encouragement & education has played a huge role in each of my recoveries & my long-term success. Even on hard days, Foothills makes it easy to look forward to physical therapy, and I wouldn’t trust any other clinic with my care.
~ Sarah
Foothills Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Group has been life-altering for my recovery.
It has been said that a characteristic of wisdom is not doing desperate things. Of course, Mr. Thoreau’s time was well before the advent of formal physical therapy. Desperation was certainly what I was feeling when I walked into Foothills Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Group in July 2021. That decision was one of the wisest choices I have made in my life. I was born at 25 weeks gestation, with the OB giving me a very respectable 1% chance of life. Three months later, I went home with my only known complication being an eye condition that meant my retinal cells were not formed correctly (ROP). I still had vision in my right eye but lacked any vision in my left eye.
In 1983, infants and then kids like me were put in institutions or disability-oriented boarding schools. As I had defied the odds so often already, my parents were desperate to see me live as normal of a life as I could. While I was being mainstreamed through school, my parents tried to get various specialists to address the fact that I had always had an odd walking gait. Unfortunately, none of the doctors ever took our concerns seriously. I adapted to the vision impairment without accommodation via curiosity and a love for horses. However, I was far more agitated about the lingering pain from sprained ankles and sore feet present throughout my childhood and young adult life.
Only when I moved to Knoxville in 2020 was I able to find a doctor who listened. Years of both weakened and overcompensating muscles had brought Plantar Fasciitis (PF) to be the eventual diagnosis that had left me in so much pain. After spending some time at another clinic, I learned that PF did not always respond well to standard treatments. When you spend time being in pain long enough, desperation can start to take over. Perhaps my persistence was because I had always grown up doing things that everyone said I could not do at some point. Regardless, I knew that there had to be something that could be done.
Upon walking into Foothills clinic for the first time, I was not sure what to expect but I was desperate and hopeful. Ryan greeted me personally, and we sat and talked about why I was there. Much to my surprise, he was encouraging, optimistic even. After 1½ years of working together, three and eventually two times per week, I was able to walk pain-free for the first time in my life. Everything about my case was unconventional, including a shoe-based solution that shouldn’t have worked but did. Every member of the Foothills team was there to cheer me on and remained eager to assist every step of the way. Little did I know just how impactful this group of people would remain in my life over the next few years.
After a short time away from Foothills to take some time to rest, I came back to Foothills in late May 2023 to contend with a more recent shoulder injury. Not being in pain constantly made exercise enjoyable, but some setbacks were to be expected as my body learned to move in a manner that was not so rigid. Before the month ended, I started experiencing vision problems in my right eye. Everything went from being clear to being shrouded in a color that was reminiscent of post-apocalyptic yellow. I was still going to my PT appointments, but I quickly got to the point where I could no longer sign the sign-in sheet. This change was so drastic that Andrea, who was the receptionist at the time, could later look back through the sign-in sheets to pinpoint the day and time my vision was lost. Later that night, I went to bed with that odd hue in my visual field and woke up not being able to see more than blur with barely any light perception. A few trips to Nashville and two hopeful but not helpful eye surgeries later, I was finally told by my retina specialist that my vision could not be recovered. It turned out that I had an exceptionally rare form of ROP that only eight people in the world are currently being studied for. My life’s propensity for defying the odds seemed to be certainly shifting that perspective to a new level.
How does a physical therapy clinic help someone go through vision loss that is not a result of a traumatic injury to the brain? They did not immediately cancel my appointments due to stereotypical lowered expectations concerning blindness. Lindsey, the new receptionist by this time, offered to pick me up and drop me off when it was too rainy and windy for me to listen as I needed to do to cross a busy highway to get to the clinic. Chelsea, while pregnant, was keen to teach me a safer route from the clinic to my crossing in preparation for a guide dog. When we had 11 inches of snow in 2024, Ryan and Forest were quick to help me through the icy parking lot where my cane was useless. None of these people were O&M instructors (orientation and mobility); however, it was the support of this wonderfully committed group that was integral in my journey to keep going. When I learned that my guide dog would need to be returned due to a medical complication, Becca’s teary words helped let me know that support was present for a difficult situation that was not even related to physical therapy. As my family and friends were too far away or dealing with challenges of their own, it was the group at Foothills who welcomed me to take comfort in venting when I was frustrated or angry as I navigated this journey of healing. Along with therapy, it has also been these people that have assisted me quite literally in walking a path of personal growth through medical trauma.
Imagine my surprise when Andrea saw me last year upon her return to a different role in the clinic. In her time away, I had dealt with a flare-up of PF again but worked back to pain-free status. I cannot say that I have been injury-free as I have continued on my weight/fitness and vision loss journeys and learned what my body can handle and what it cannot. However, I can emphatically say that everyone at Foothills, including the PT technicians, has continuously worked with me through every injury with as much professionalism as they have curiosity, friendliness, and positivity.
No one could have prepared any of us for this journey that brought all of us together from a starting point of desperation. Nevertheless, it is journeys such as these that show how life can take you down unexpected paths.
This group has forever changed my life for the better, and I am confident that they can and will continue to do so for many more clients to come. Foothills is a clinic that I have witnessed help so many others in the time that I have been going there. Outwardly, their clients speak of how much they trust the team’s expertise at Foothills. Whether a client has come for a major therapeutic recovery or something more minor, this team prides itself in using every bit of knowledge and technique at their disposal to assist each client uniquely. Thank you to the team at Foothills Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Group for enriching the lives of your clients and being so capable and willing to work with each client to teach us how to get back to where we want to be while also learning to experience new levels of wellness.
I came to Foothills out of desperation after almost constant foot pain from childhood through my adult life. The owner, Ryan, met with me personally before the day of my evaluation just to hear my journey through physical therapy to figure out how he could assist me with becoming pain-free. The process took patience, time, and consistency; however, after 1½ years, I was able to walk pain free for the first time in my life. From the moment that you walk in the doors at Foothills, there is a sense of community with a strong sense of professionalism. Every member of this team brings with them a high degree of expertise that is equally matched with approachability. Individualized care is standard here with questions being encouraged. Even when a technician is assisting in the event that the PT has to step away, form checks are common and client feedback is welcomed.
Over the past 4 years, I could not have imagined how impactful the team at Foothills would be in my life. In late May 2023, I unexpectedly lost my vision in my right eye due to a very rare congenital eye disease. The Foothills team adapted to and supported my changing needs quickly and quietly while still offering respectful curiosity and accessibility. Everyone on this team has been eager to learn and listen while also not being afraid to challenge skills I need to continue my journey through physical health and vision loss.
Foothills Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Group has been life-altering for my recovery. I would recommend this clinic for anyone seeking individualized care that balances compassion, professionalism, and client responsibility. Speaking from personal experience, pain is tiring and often keeps us from being as engaged in our lives as we want to be. Whether you are recovering from surgery, working to manage chronic pain, or wanting to learn better movement habits to avoid exercise-related injuries, the team at Foothills will work with you every step of the way to help you get back to the life you want. If you need physical therapy support, let Foothills Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Group be your first choice towards your long-term health goals. Thank you to the Foothills team for giving me a community built on trust, creativity, and resilience as we continue on this journey of transition together.
~ Anonymous
~ Kent C.
~ Patti L.
~ Joan C.
